There’s no denying the fact that Cody Zeller was one of the best players in college basketball last season, as the 7-footer averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on an Indiana squad that won the Big Ten regular season title and reached the Sweet 16. But he’s gone now, as are Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford and Derek Elston, meaning that head coach Tom Crean will need his newcomers (and seldom-used returnees) to have an impact in 2013-14.

One of those players is 6-foot-11 freshman Luke Fischer, who is expected to factor into Indiana’s interior rotation. Fischer arrived in Bloomington after leading his Germantown (Wis.) High School team to a 56-0 record over his last two seasons, but there’s still much for him to learn as he transitions to the college game. Fischer’s gotten stronger, adding 15 pounds to his frame as the strength and conditioning staff gets the big man ready for those rugged nights in the Big Ten.

Fischer’s development is important given the Hoosiers’ lack of interior experience, and according to Pete DiPrimio of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Indiana head coach Tom Crean feels that it’s “very important” that Fischer be ready (and able) to play right away.

Crean didn’t recruit Fischer to sit the bench. Fischer has to be a big contributor, especially with the Hoosiers’ lack of inside experience. Sophomore forward Jeremy Hollowell played the most of the returning big men last year (he averaged 2.8 points and 2.06 rebounds in 9.7 minutes). Forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea and center Peter Jurkin saw limited action.

Indiana will certainly have leaders, with senior Will Sheehey and sophomore point guard Yogi Ferrell filling those roles. But if the Hoosiers are to factor into the Big Ten race their youngsters will need to contribute. Coach Crean and his staff reeled in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, led by forwards Noah Vonleh and Troy Williams and guard Stanford Robinson, so the talent is certainly there.

Even with the stars from last season’s Big Ten champion squad gone, the process of restoring one of the game’s most storied programs continues. The hope is that Fischer and the other underclassmen will prove themselves capable of helping the Hoosiers return to the days when they were consistently contending for Big Ten and national honors.